Bags of Creativity
Evidence suggests that the skills required for success at school, at work and in life are those at the heart of creativity, culture and the arts. We know that participation in creative activities can improve attainment in English and maths and that children who take part in arts activities at home during their early years do better at school as they get older. There are compelling reasons for ensuring that all children and young people, wherever they start in life, benefit from rich and rewarding creative and arts experiences.
In these challenging times we need to find ways to help young people in the City of York to sing, dance, act, make music, perform, design and create. Over the last five years, the REACH Bags of Creativity initiative has done just that for some very special children and young people! The need for new and creative ways of engaging and enriching young people’s lives, particularly those who are harder to reach, is even more important. REACH aims to continue to support schools and community groups by obtaining and distributing ideas and resources through the Bags of Creativity initiative..
The bags are free to targeted children and young people and contain activity postcards designed by local artists, students and organisations and all the materials needed to do the activities. This enables children and young people to do age appropriate creative activities at school, at home and in community centres.
We aim to produce bags on key themes to distribute to children and young people throughout the city. The themes we are exploring at the moment are:
· Get Creative;
· Angels of Hope;
· Xmas in York;
· Going Green.
The cost of bag will vary depending on the theme but we estimate that they will be between £5 and £10 each.
AND REMEMBER THAT CREATIVITY MATTERS
There is increasing understanding that creativity should lie at the heart of the offer we make every child and young person. They don’t simply need to revise their literacy and maths, and get active, they need to read, sing, tell and write stories and poems, draw, paint and dance!
AND REMEMBER THAT ESSENTIAL/CREATIVE SKILLS MATTER
The more children and young people read, sing, tell and write stories and poems, draw, paint and dance the more they develop the core skills employers want and are needed to thrive and succeed at school, at work and in later life.
AND REMEMBER THAT HEALTH AND WELL-BEING MATTERS
There is strong evidence and research showing that arts and creative experiences help all of us and that children and young people’s mental health and emotional well-being is improved.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Chris Edwards
Chair, REACH
07740942181